Pulmonary function studies in Pakistani cotton ginners

The present study explored the relationship between the pulmonary functions and exposure to cotton dust. Pulmonary function tests i.e. forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1], and peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] were recorded in 64 non smoker cotton ginners. The data on pulmonary function test for healthy Pakistani population from previous studies was used as control. The follow-up study for lung function testing on the same cotton ginners was conducted from 1999 and repeated yearly up to 2005. Because of cotton dust exposure, cotton ginners showed a significant decline in their pulmonary function [P<0.05] .We concluded that the continuous exposure to cotton dust in ginners is associated with an increased progressive impairment of pulmonary functions